David M. Klaus

David M. Klaus, Ph.D.

biographical sketch

Research Interests: Spaceflight microbial systems, spacesuits, spacecraft habitats and life support technologies

David Klaus obtained a BS in Mechanical Engineering from West Virginia University in 1984 and promptly embarked upon a career in the space program, initially working as a Shuttle Launch Controller at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and later moving to Mission Operations at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. His professional background spans shuttle life support systems, thermal numerical modeling, and advanced space suit test and analysis. In 1990, Klaus joined BioServe Space Technologies as a Research Assistant and began graduate studies at the University of Colorado, where he obtained his MS and PhD in Aerospace Engineering Sciences. Dr. Klaus spent 1994-95 in Germany as a postdoctoral Fulbright Scholar matriculated at the University of Bonn while conducting clinostat research at the DLR Institute for Flight Medicine in Cologne. Klaus was a NASA Astronaut Candidate finalist in 1998 and 2000. He acquired additional international training in space biology and medicine in Russia during the summer of 2002. His research and teaching recognition includes the Young Investigator Award from the American Society for Gravitational and Space Biology (ASGSB) in 2003, the Educator of the Year Award from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Rocky Mountain Section in 2004, the Boulder Faculty Assembly’s Excellence in Teaching Award in 2007 and the Provost Faculty Achievement Award in 2007. Dr. Klaus is now an Associate Professor with tenure in the CU Aerospace Department and Associate Director of BioServe, where he has been involved with biotechnology payloads flown on over 30 missions since 1991 aboard the Shuttle, Progress, Soyuz, Mir, and the International Space Station. He is active in a number of research topics in the field of Bioastronautics on which he has authored or co-authored over 80 scientific articles and technical reports and given more than 70 presentations. Dr. Klaus teaches graduate and undergraduate engineering courses with an emphasis on human space flight.